Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: We aimed to investigate serum galanin-like peptide levels and its’correlation with hormonal and metabolic parameters in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Material and Methods: The study included 48 women (age range, 18-44 years) with a diagnosis of PCOS and control group that included 40 healthy females (age range, 18-46 years). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, Ferriman-Gallwey score, was evaluated and plasma glucose, lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides), estradiol, progesterone, total testosterone, prolactine, insulin, DHEA-S, FSH, LH, free T3, free T4, TSH, anti-TPO, 25(OH)D, fibrinogen, d-dimer, CRP and GALP levels were measured in all study subjects.

Results: Waist circumference (P= 0,044) and Ferriman-Gallwey score (P= 0,002) were significantly higher in patients with PCOS compared to control group. Among the metabolic and hormonal parameters studies, only total testosterone was significantly higher in patients with PCOS (P= 0,002). Also, serum 25(OH)D level was significantly lower in PCOS group (P= 0,001). CRP, fibrinogen and D-dimer levels were all similar between the two groups. Serum GALP level was significantly higher in PCOS patients (P=0,001). GALP was negatively correlated with 25(OH)D (r=-0.401, P= 0.002) and positively correlated with total testosterone values (r=0.265, P= 0.024) ) Multiple regression analysis revealed that both total testosterone and 25(OH)D significantly contributed to GALP levels.

Conclusions: Our study is the first study in the literature that evaluated serum GALP levels in patients with PCOS. Increased GALP levels in PCOS and its’ association with total testosterone levels, might show that GALP may act as an intermediary in increased GnRH mediated LH release that is one of the underlying pathogenetic mechanism of PCOS.

Keywords: Galanin-like peptide, vitamin D, polycystic ovary syndrome